What are the best practices for funding transportation needs of aging populations?

As the population ages, transportation planning faces new challenges and opportunities to meet the mobility and accessibility needs of older adults. Transportation funding and financing are crucial aspects of ensuring that aging populations can travel safely, comfortably, and affordably. However, traditional sources of revenue, such as gas taxes and vehicle fees, are declining and insufficient to cover the costs of maintaining and improving the transportation system. Moreover, aging populations have diverse and changing preferences and needs for transportation modes, services, and facilities. Therefore, transportation planners need to adopt best practices for funding transportation needs of aging populations that are sustainable, equitable, and responsive.

1 Identify funding gaps and priorities

The first step in funding transportation needs of aging populations is to assess the current and projected funding gaps and priorities for the transportation system. This involves analyzing the existing revenue sources, expenditures, and performance measures, as well as forecasting the future demand, supply, and costs of transportation services and infrastructure. Additionally, transportation planners need to identify the specific needs and preferences of older adults, such as accessibility, safety, reliability, affordability, and choice of transportation modes. By conducting a comprehensive and participatory funding gap and priority analysis, transportation planners can establish a clear and evidence-based vision and strategy for funding transportation needs of aging populations.

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Omid Y.

INF Ph.D. Students | Pioneering Urban Planner Committed to Social Equity and Resilience | Civil Engineer | Athlete | Bodybuilding-Crossfit Judge & Coach
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To fund transportation for aging populations, a multifaceted approach is needed. By 2030, 55 million Americans over 65, mainly in areas with limited public transit, will face mobility challenges. Paratransit services, while crucial, are limited and expensive, averaging $34.59 per trip. #Innovative solutions include retraining older drivers, adapting road designs, and exploring cost-effective public transit models. Integrating strategies from projects like #SMART_ECI , focusing on advanced technology and strategic planning, can enhance transportation for seniors, blending innovation with demographic understanding and financial strategy.

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🙏🏽 Mauricio Rosas
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The biggest challenge to any transit is funding. Whether it's travel by car, airplane, ship, bus, or most other modalities the costs outpace income. The energy costs are always rising and so is the profit margin. Somehow, we need the producers of energy to pay a large portion of capital projects and maintenance costs of the many transit modalities. It needs to be a public/private venture of companies within the country they profit. Any foreign investment must be transparent and mutually regulated. One party cannot invest if either does not participate with the same transparency.

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2 Diversify funding sources and mechanisms

The second step in funding transportation needs of aging populations is to diversify the funding sources and mechanisms that can generate and allocate revenue for transportation projects and programs. This involves exploring and implementing a variety of funding options, such as user fees, tolls, sales taxes, property taxes, value capture, bonds, grants, public-private partnerships, and donations. Moreover, transportation planners need to consider the equity and efficiency implications of different funding sources and mechanisms, such as their impact on low-income, rural, and minority older adults, as well as their administrative and political feasibility. By diversifying the funding sources and mechanisms, transportation planners can enhance the financial sustainability and flexibility of the transportation system.

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Omid Y.

INF Ph.D. Students | Pioneering Urban Planner Committed to Social Equity and Resilience | Civil Engineer | Athlete | Bodybuilding-Crossfit Judge & Coach
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To diversify funding for transportation needs, especially for aging populations, it's crucial to integrate innovative technologies and varied funding sources. Strategies include leveraging AI and blockchain for efficient resource management, implementing user fees and motor fuel taxes with inflation adjustment, using municipal bonds and federal programs like #TIFIA for low-cost financing, establishing public-private partnerships, and creating special purpose districts for regional projects. Adapting to reduced traditional revenues due to COVID-19 with programs like Road Usage Charging and congestion pricing is also vital. These measures, combined with #SMART_ECI insights, can build a sustainable, inclusive funding model.

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3 Integrate funding with planning and programming

The third step in funding transportation needs of aging populations is to integrate the funding decisions with the planning and programming processes of the transportation system. This involves aligning the funding sources and mechanisms with the goals, objectives, and criteria of the transportation plan and program, as well as coordinating and collaborating with other agencies, stakeholders, and users. Additionally, transportation planners need to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and impacts of the funding decisions on the performance and quality of the transportation system, as well as the satisfaction and well-being of older adults. By integrating the funding with the planning and programming, transportation planners can ensure the accountability and transparency of the transportation system.

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Omid Y.

INF Ph.D. Students | Pioneering Urban Planner Committed to Social Equity and Resilience | Civil Engineer | Athlete | Bodybuilding-Crossfit Judge & Coach
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#SMART_ECI revolutionizes transportation, merging AI, IoT, and analytics for enhanced efficiency and safety, while promoting eco-friendliness. Parallelly, #ADOT 's strategy exemplifies comprehensive, interdisciplinary planning, integrating stakeholder collaboration and performance-based programming. This approach, inclusive of specialized and tribal planning, ensures economic growth, environmental sustainability, and equitable access. Together, they embody a future-focused transportation paradigm, aligning with government compliance and addressing diverse community needs, setting a benchmark in sustainable, efficient transport systems.

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Naz Khan
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Absolutely true By planning and programming by evaluating outcomes can help attain the quality of success. Continuous goals and objectives , education and also testing the system can we achieve end results

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4 Promote innovation and experimentation

The fourth step in funding transportation needs of aging populations is to promote innovation and experimentation in the design and delivery of transportation services and infrastructure. This involves encouraging and supporting new and emerging technologies, business models, and practices that can improve the mobility and accessibility of older adults, such as autonomous vehicles, ride-hailing, car-sharing, micro-mobility, telehealth, and smart cities. Moreover, transportation planners need to test and pilot different funding sources and mechanisms that can foster and facilitate innovation and experimentation, such as performance-based contracts, incentives, and subsidies. By promoting innovation and experimentation, transportation planners can adapt and respond to the changing needs and preferences of aging populations.

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5 Engage and educate older adults and the public

The fifth step in funding transportation needs of aging populations is to engage and educate older adults and the public about the benefits and challenges of the transportation system. This involves conducting and participating in outreach, consultation, and communication activities that can inform and involve older adults and the public in the funding decisions and processes, as well as solicit and address their feedback and concerns. Additionally, transportation planners need to educate and raise awareness among older adults and the public about the transportation options, services, and facilities that are available and accessible to them, as well as the rights and responsibilities of the transportation users. By engaging and educating older adults and the public, transportation planners can build trust and support for the transportation system.

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James Scott

Director of Behaviour Change & Development at Cycling UK | Behavioural Scientist | Urban Mobility Expert | Strategic Visionary
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Based on my experience, fostering awareness plays a pivotal role. Attitudes strongly shape transportation choices. To encourage an open mindset toward trying new options, we must prioritise raising awareness and providing individuals the opportunity to test these options in a relaxed setting, ideally without any cost involved for the first few times.

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6 Learn and share best practices and lessons

The sixth step in funding transportation needs of aging populations is to learn and share best practices and lessons from other jurisdictions, agencies, and organizations that have successfully funded and implemented transportation projects and programs for older adults. This involves conducting and participating in research, benchmarking, and networking activities that can identify and disseminate the best practices and lessons in funding transportation needs of aging populations, as well as the challenges and opportunities that arise. Moreover, transportation planners need to continuously update and improve their knowledge and skills in funding transportation needs of aging populations, as well as share their experiences and insights with others. By learning and sharing best practices and lessons, transportation planners can enhance their capacity and effectiveness in funding transportation needs of aging populations.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Angela Harris

Early Head Start teacher
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Finding the right stakeholders who care about the aging is important also. If you can partner with an organization that relies on the older population, they have a reason to help.

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What are the best practices for funding transportation needs of aging populations?

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2

3

4

5

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1 Identify funding gaps and priorities

2 Diversify funding sources and mechanisms

3 Integrate funding with planning and programming

4 Promote innovation and experimentation

5 Engage and educate older adults and the public

6 Learn and share best practices and lessons

7 Here’s what else to consider

Transportation Planning

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What are the best practices for funding transportation needs of aging populations?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify funding gaps and priorities

2 Diversify funding sources and mechanisms

3 Integrate funding with planning and programming

4 Promote innovation and experimentation

5 Engage and educate older adults and the public

6 Learn and share best practices and lessons

7 Here’s what else to consider

Transportation Planning

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